As the general elections draw closer, it is imperative that we scrutinize those politicians vying for political office. Batswana should be very careful of who they elect to represent them in parliament and at councils.
We should desist from the tendency of voting for people based solely on their party colours. We should not vote for donkeys just simply because they are draped in our party colours. We should vote for only those politicians who have proved that they have our interests at heart. We should vote for capable, hardworking and dedicated politicians.
We should vote for people who we are confident they will enter parliament and speak for us without fear or favour. We should strictly vote for people who hold and respect the belief that they are accountable to the electorates and not the executive. We should vote for people who are ready to stand with us and defy their parties’ leadership if they are forced to choose between us and their leaders. Only servants and not masters should get our vote. Let us look at Tswapong South.
In my view, the people of Tswapong South ought to know by now the person who deserves their vote.
In the last general elections they entrusted their vote with Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Oreeditse Molebatsi. They sent him to parliament and by now, I want to believe, they know the kind of a leader he is.
In the last elections, the people of Tswapong South preferred Molebatsi to Kesitegile Gobotswang. Despite his loss, Gobotswang went on to show the people of Tswapong South his capabilities and dedication towards his constituency. By now I want to believe they are aware of what they have denied themselves after they denied him the parliamentary seat.
There is nothing wrong with what they did though. They have learnt their lesson. They needed to give Molebatsi the benefit of the doubt. It will however be complete ‘bodela’ for voters in Tswapong South to retain Molebatsi when Gobotswang has so much proved to be a better alternative.
The people of Tswapong South are lucky for they have an alternative. In some constituencies they are stuck with useless councilors and members of parliament and they have no alternative.
In my view, Molebatsi has reached his expiry date. I will therefore be shocked if the voters in Tswapong retain him. Bringing Molebatsi back to parliament will be no different from what Choppies is being accused of ÔÇô replacing the expiry dates on expired goods. I would be lying to say I still remember anything that Molebatsi has said in parliament, or anywhere else, that has benefitted his constituency. His only claim to fame is his fatuous statements where he reportedly said he wished God could deduct his living days and add to Khama’s.
I only remember when he was forced to go and apologise to his constituents after he had ‘insulted’ them. Molebatsi is assistant minister in Agriculture yet he is overshadowed by the ministry’s permanent secretary and other auxiliary staff. In fact, I often forget De Graff has an assistant. Why should the people of Tswapong South retain a lamebrain when Dr Gobotswang has offered to represent them?
For anyone who follows what happens in Tswapong South through the media it would be pardonable to mistake Gobotswang for the area MP. Gobotswang writes in newspapers about the concerns of his constituents. Gobotswang makes television appearances and never fails to mention Tswapong South. Gobotswang’s aspirations and intentions for his constituency are known.
Gobotswang has resigned his lucrative job at the university to channel all his energies towards working for Tswapong South. How dedicated can one be to quit such a prestigious and well paying job to go into full time politics where there are no meaningful rewards, especially when you are in the opposition? Gobotswang has remained loyal to Tswapong even when he was rejected by the voters, clearly as a mistake that I don’t want to believe they will repeat next year.
I hear Gobotswang camped in the area for the whole month during the just ended by-elections where his party won, convincingly, the Tumasera/Seleka ward. I’m waiting to hear how many days Molebatsi spent in the area. Look, I know this may be construed to be a campaign for Gobotswang. Let’s say it was. So what? I mean, I don’t see why it should be deemed inappropriate for political commentators to endorse those candidates that we deem fit for public office and make known our reservations on lame ducks.
I don’t sympathize with Gobotswang’s party but I will die defending the wisdom of voting people based on their capabilities as opposed to their political affiliation. The danger of voting for people just because they wear the same colours as us is the reason we have some monkeys and puppets in parliament. We voted for weak politicians only because they screamed our parties’ slogans and we forgot to interrogate their intellectual depth and how principled they are.
For now it is not yet clear whether Dorcas Makgatho-Malesu will challenge Molebatsi at the BDP’s primary elections. Even though Dorcas would get my vote any time when put against Molebatsi, she is only second best to Gobotswang.
Dorcas is the reason people in Tswapong South can’t freely sell Chibuku to make money and send their children to school. She is the reason we are forced to sleep early and not club as much as we can. Dorcas is the reason Batswana have resorted to drinking Namibia’s Windhoek Lager and ditch Botswana’s St Louis Lager because through her ministry’s decision, it is now more expensive to buy locally brewed alcohol beverages and much cheaper to buy imported alcohol. Yes, I know Dorcas is only forced to ‘ban’ alcohol consumption because of just one man. However, by accepting to head that ministry and go further to do as it pleases Khama and not as the majority of Batswana would want, Dorcas doesn’t deserve the vote from the people of Tswapong South.
